He also knows getting worked up over something that he can’t do much to change is asinine and a waste of energy that’s better spent working on his craft as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Ramon Ramirez is focusing on his craft as a relief pitcher, not on Tony Bruno's tweets that called him "an illegal alien." (AP Photo)

Ramirez is the pitcher that hit Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino here on Friday night, sparking a bench-clearing brawl. Part of the fallout from the incident was sports talk radio host Tony Bruno tweeting that the Giants were “gutless” and said manager “(Bruce) Bochy is a coward for having his illegal alien pitcher hit a guy…”

For the record, Ramirez is not an illegal alien and has a work visa, as do all players in professional baseball that are not U.S. citizens. He also took the high road in all this.

“Everyone has their opinions and they can think what they want to think,” Ramirez, a Dominican Republic native, said in Spanish. “I respect his ideas. I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me. He said that about me, and it’s something that’s stupid. I’m here because I have my visa. I’m here to work."

“I respect that he says what he thinks but I can’t change his mind. Everybody has their life and they can think what they want. I hope this doesn’t make more trouble for me in the future because I don’t know this guy.”

For his part in the fight, Ramirez, who said he didn’t purposely hit Victorino, received a fine along with catcher Eli Whiteside, who made a weak attempt to tackle base runner Placido Polanco.

Victorino got a three-game suspension because he bumped an umpire and jumped back into the fight later, further escalating things, according to a source familiar with the dealings. Polanco was also fined, and Victorino is appealing his suspension.

Ramirez and Whiteside were somewhat surprised they didn’t get at least a one-game ban. And the way MLB has handed out suspensions lately, they have reason to be a little shocked.

“I didn’t feel like I did anything,” Whiteside said. “I just went out there to protect my pitcher. That was my intention, to protect Ramon. I’m happy with the outcome.

“A lot of guys are getting suspended for things like that happening. I thought I might get a game, but I’m happy with not having to miss any time.”